Former Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple hangs out with Midland Academy of Advanced & Creative Studies student council members before speaking to Academy students about depression and how it led to his son's suicide. "It's like a color picture when all the color runs out," Hipple said of the effects of depression with which he and his family have struggled. He stressed to the students the importance of being aware of the people around them for signs of depression.

Former NFL quarterback Eric Hipple has a simple, yet powerful message for teens.

"(Depression) is not normal. It's not a weakness. It's not a character flaw," he said, urging them not to be afraid to ask for help.

The Midland Academy of Advanced & Creative Studies high school students listened to Hipple's talk during the school's Yellow Ribbon seminar Tuesday. The seminar was sponsored by the Midland Youth Action Council through the Midland Area Community Foundation.

Hipple played for the Detroit Lions for 10 years. He worked as a freelance sports field reporter and analyst for the Fox Broadcasting Co.'s local pregame show from 1995 to 2000. He also worked as a motivational speaker.

He started giving talks about depression and suicide awareness after his 15-year-old son, Jeff, committed suicide in 2000. He works with the University of Michigan Depression Center.

Hipple said he looked back after his son died and saw warning signs in his own life and his family history. His aunt had schizophrenia, while his mom went through periods of depression. His dad called them "her spells." His niece has bipolar disorder and has lived a "hellacious life."

As a child, Hipple sometimes would have bouts of crying and wondering why life was so sad. As an adult, he had some "tough times" when he had trouble getting out of bed and would miss college classes because he was depressed.

Hipple said depression is the "common cold" of mental illness, and that more than 19 million Americans have it. Women are depressed twice as much as men, and the average age of onset is 15 to 19.

"It just doesn't go away," he said, adding that a person having one bout of depression has a 50 percent chance of having another one. He said episodes of depressions become longer, more severe and closer together if left untreated. He stressed the importance of treatment and said he doesn't think antidepressants are addictive.

Hipple kept much of his talk light and full of humor, and he showed a video with some of his moves as a football player. The students watched as a younger Hipple ran through defense, holding the ball close and being smacked into by another player.

Then he started talking about suicide and his son, Jeff.

"This is a difficult subject to talk about," he said.

Hipple said things seemed to be going well. For example, Jeff was captain of his freshman basketball team. Then he started withdrawing from people and things. His grades dropped and he wasn't allowed to play basketball. His dad thought he understood.

"I had those roller coaster rides myself. To me, that was normal," Hipple said.

Then Jeff gave away his basketball shoes. When asked why, he said it was because he didn't need them anymore. Hipple said that's one sign of a suicidal person - giving away their possessions.

Jeff didn't want to go to school, and then would go only if his dad drove him. He went to the doctor several times, but all he would say was he didn't feel well.

Then came one Saturday morning. Hipple was getting ready to go on a business trip. He told Jeff he would call him the next day.

"Before I was able to, my wife called and said he took his life," he said.

Hipple said the students can help in three ways: learning all they can about depression, educating others and working to remove the stigma of depression.

Students Karensue Brandon, 18; Justine Parsons, 16; and Samuel Johnson, 16; are members of the school's Yellow Ribbon committee. The three students got Hipple's message.

"I got ideas how I can help (and) what I can look for if my friends are going through depression," Johnson said.

"My cousin suffers from depression. She has what's called bipolar (disorder)," Brandon said. She said her 17-year-old cousin has talked about suicide, and she also once wrote a note about it.

"That's when we first noticed signs," she said.

Parsons said it was important to be there for friends and family who are depressed.

"A big thing you can't do is be self-righteous," she said. "A lot of people, you try to get them help …"

"I don't think they realize they need it," Brandon added.

The Midland County 24-Hour Crisis Hotline is 1-800-317-0708. The National Suicide Crisis Hotline is 1-800-SUICIDE.

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